Candidates vying for office faced off at a State and Local Candidates Forum in Columbia last night.
The candidates sat at a table and debated issues such as tax regulations, road repair, and education. State Senator Kurt Schaefer, the incumbent candidate for the 19th District seat, spoke about the importance of cooperation among government officials.
“We have Republicans and we have Democrats," said Schaefer. "But we work together to get things done and we move on. We don’t call each other names, we don’t point fingers, and we don’t throw bombs, because once you start that, you destroy ability to get anything done.”
His opponent in the 19th district senate race, Mary Still, talked about the positive effect of transportation funding.
“It is a good economic driver for our state to get construction started," said Still. "We will have to come up with a revenue stream to repay it, but we need to be talking about that and working from the best package that has the support of the people.”
The forum featured candidates for public administrator, State Senate District 19, and Boone County Commission Districts one and two. The event also introduced unopposed candidates running for Presiding Commissioner, Assessor, Sheriff, and Treasurer. Voters will decide on the Senate, Public Administrator, and Boone County Commission races come election day.
